Can A Pharmacist Afford Rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?

Rent-burdened — rent takes 48.1% of gross income.

Carmel-by-the-Sea rent: June 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (California state estimate).

Carmel-by-the-Sea median rent
$6,281/mo
Pharmacist salary (California)
$156,645/yr
Rent as % of income
48.1%
Gross monthly income works out to about $13,054, and the 30% rule supports up to $3,916/mo in rent. Carmel-by-the-Sea's median rent of $6,281 exceeds that threshold by $2,365/mo, putting a pharmacist salary into the rent-burdened range here. A pharmacist works roughly 83.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a pharmacist salary

Pharmacist pay covers comfortable rent in nearly every US city. At the national-average pharmacist salary, the 30% rule supports about $3,319 a month in rent — above median rent in all but a handful of high-cost coastal metros.

Cheaper rent nearby

These California cities have lower median rent than Carmel-by-the-Sea, which improves the affordability math on a pharmacist salary:

San Marino, CA
$6,258/mo (47.9% of income)
San Marino, CA
$6,172/mo (47.3% of income)
San Marino, CA
$6,133/mo (47% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Carmel-by-the-Sea

View full rent data for Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA

Frequently asked questions

Can a pharmacist afford rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA?

Median rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea is $6,281 a month. A typical pharmacist in California earns about $156,645 a year, which makes that rent 48.1% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.

How much rent can a pharmacist afford in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

Using the 30% rule, a pharmacist salary in California (~$156,645/yr) supports up to $3,916 a month in rent. Carmel-by-the-Sea's current median rent is $6,281/mo, which is $2,365/mo over the affordability threshold.

How many hours does a pharmacist work to cover rent in Carmel-by-the-Sea?

At an hourly equivalent of about $75 an hour, a pharmacist in California works roughly 83.4 hours a month to cover Carmel-by-the-Sea's median rent of $6,281.

Where is rent cheaper than Carmel-by-the-Sea for a pharmacist?

Nearby California cities with lower median rent include San Marino ($6,258/mo), San Marino ($6,172/mo), San Marino ($6,133/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a pharmacist salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived California state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.